Conviction in Schuylkill County window weight slaying

Tuesday

Mar 5, 2013 at 10:16 PMMar 5, 2013 at 10:17 PM

POTTSVILE (AP) — A man has been convicted of first-degree murder in the slaying of a man beaten to death with a cast-iron window weight during a burglary of his eastern Pennsylvania home almost a year ago.

Jurors in Schuylkill County deliberated for a little more than an hour Tuesday before convicting 19-year-old Jarvin Huggins of Mahanoy City of all counts including burglary, robbery, theft and aggravated assault.

Police said he got into the basement of a former neighbor's home in April and beat 48-year-old Gene Slavinsky to death with the iron rod before stealing items and the victim's car.

Huggins' lawyer challenged physical evidence and a confession and suggested that his client suffered brain damage before birth.